Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Jan. 17, 1939. c. w. FAILOR Original Filed Sept. 29, 1937 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheefl v His ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1939. c. w. FAILO R RAILWAY'TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1937 3 Sfieets-Sheet- 2 W mu g Jan. '17, 1939- c. w. FAILOR I 2,144,529

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS ori inal Filed Sept. 29, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1* A Q IQ IN TOR 1 v His ATTORNEY Fig 1c.

har Failbr Patented Jan. 17,1939

UNITED STATES ail n PATENT Free RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,382 Renewed January 3, 1938 25 Claims.

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling apparatus for supplying coded currents to track circuits for the control of train carried governing means, and more particularly it relates to apparatus for supplying coded currents to the rails of a controlled manual block system.

The system shown in this application is an improvement on the systems shown in an application of Frank H. Nicholson and Leslie R. Allison, Serial No. 210,744, filed May 28, 1938, for Railway traflic controlling apparatus.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1A, 1B and 10 when placed end to end in the order named, with Fig. 1A on the left, constitute a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference characters I and 2 designate the track rails of a stretch of track over which traffic may move in either direction. These rails are divided by insulated joints 3 at locations, 4, 5, 6, l and 8 into a plurality of successive track sections 45, 5-6, etc.

For establishing the direction of traffic through the stretch, each location is provided with an eastbound trafiic relay and a Westbound trafiic relay designated by the reference characters EF and WF, respectively, each with a prefix the same .as the reference character of the corresponding location. As indicated by the broken line, the traflic relays EF and WF may be governed by a manually controlled lever L. The particular form of control of the traflic relays by the lever L forms no part of my invention, and it will be considered sufiicient to state, therefore, that when the lever L is in its extreme left-hand position, as shown, the relays WF will be energized and the relays EF will be deenergized to establish trafiic in the westbound direction, whereas when lever L is in its extreme right-hand position traffic relays EF will be energized and traffic relays WF will be deenergized to establish traflic in the eastbound direction.

For the operation of this system I provide sources of direct current and alternating current, the terminals of which are designated by the reference characters B and C, and BX and CK, respectively, at each location.

Each location is provided with a constantly operating motor coder designated by the reference character CD, with a prefix the same as the reference character of the associated location, and

directly connected to the terminals BX and CX at such location. Each motor coder is provided with a plurality of constantly operating contacts 30, IZIJ, I80 and 218, which contacts operate respectively to interrupt the supply of alternating current track circuit energy at 30, 120, 180 and 270 times per minute.

Each location is provided with a direct current code following track relay designated by the reference character TR with a prefix to correspond to the location, and receiving energy through a rectifier I0, which in turn receives energy from the secondary winding II of a. transformer designated by the reference character P with a prefix to correspond to the location. As will be explained more in detail hereinafter, each primary winding I2 of the transformers P is connected to. the rails of either the left-hand section or the right-hand section at the corresponding location in accordance with the condition of the associated traffic relays EF and WF.

For controlling the character of the coded current supplied to the rails, each location is pro vided with a home relay and a distant relay designated by the reference characters H and D, respectively, each with a prefix to correspond to the location. Also located at each location is an auxiliary relay and a transformer designated by the reference characters J and Q, respectively,

with a prefix to correspond to the location.

The home and distant relays H and D are controlled by the associated code following track relay in the following manner. Referring to location 6, for example, it will be seen that track relay 6TB is following code with the result that its contacts I3 and It are moving in unison between their front and back points. When the front point of contact I3 of relay 6TB, is closed, relay BJ will become energized by a circuit which may be traced from terminal B, through front point of contact I3 of relay iiTR, relay SJ and upper portion I5 of the primary winding of transformer 6Q to terminal C. It will be clear, therefore, that relay SJ is periodically energized upon each closing of front contact I3 of relay 6TB, and. that this relay, due to its slow-acting characteristic," wil1 remain in its energized condition during the open circuit periods when the front point of contact I 3 is open. Upon the closing of the back point of contact I3 of relay 6TB, home relay 6H will become energizedby a circuit which may be traced over a path which passes from terminal B, through back point of contact I3 of relay BTR, front contact I6 of relay GJ, relay 6H and lower portion ll of the primary winding of transformer 6Q to terminal C. Relay 6H is likewise provided with a slow releasing characteristic, so that this relay will also remain in its energized condition during the open circuit periods. 7

From the description thus far'given it will be plain that the upper and lower portions [5 and H of transformer 6Q are alternately energized in opposite directions to induce similar currents in upper portion l8 and lower-portion19 of=the secondary winding of transformer 6Q. These impulses are mechanically rectified by-contact l4 of relay 6TH in such a'manner that relay "6D is always energized in the same'directicn; that is, when the front point of contact l4 becomes closed, energy will flow from the center terminal of the secondary winding of transformer GQ through wire 20 to relay 6D, and thence through the front point of contact l4 of relayliTR'back 'to'the lower portion [9 of the secondary winding of transformer 6Q. In a'siinilar manner, when the back point of contact 14 becomes closed, energy will flow in'the same direction from the center terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 6Q, through wire '20 to relay "6D, and thence through the back=point of contact M of relay BTR, to theouter terminal'ofup'per portion H! of the secondary winding'of transformer'fiQ. Relay'fiD 'is provided with a'slo'w releasing characteristic, so that it will-remain in its energized condition although periodically energized. Relays 6H and 6D are so chosen and adjusted that relay 6H will become picked up when the code following relay B'IR'isfdllowing any one of the four different codes previously specified, but relay 6D will become picked upbnl'y when the code following relayGTR is followirig one or another of thethree higher'codes,-that is, 120, 180 or 2'70. Each of the'other relays H and D is controlled by the associated code following track relay in the same manner as herein described for relays 6H and 6D.

Connected across the rails of the left-hand section at each location is the secondary winding 2! of a transformer designated b'ythe-r'eference character ET with a prefix corresponding to the location, and connected across the rails of each right-hand section at each location is the secondary winding 22 of a transformer designated by the reference character WT with'aprefix corresponding to the location. As willbe drawings, so that the relays "WF are energized and the relays EF are deenergized to establish trafiic in the Westbound direction, I-plae a tr'ain, indicated diagrammatically by the reference character K, in the section immediately to the left of location 4. Due to the "presence of the train, track relay 4TB, and consequently relays 41-1, M and 4B are all deenergized. With'the apparatus in this condition, codedcu'rrent interrupted at the rate of 30 times per minute is supplied to primary winding '24 of transformer WT, so, that this current is supplied to'the rails of section 4'5 by secondary winding 22. The 0 -plied thereto to keep trafiic moving.

cuit for primary winding 24 may be traced over a path which passes from terminal BX, through contact 30 of motor coder 4CD, back point of contact 26 of relay 4J, front contact 2'! of relay 4WF and primary winding 24 to terminal CX.

It will be noted that an auxiliary circuit is provided for supplying 30 code current to the rails of section 45, which circuit includes back point of contact 28 of relay 4H and front point of contact 26 of relay M. This auxiliary circuit insures that, if relay 4H should become released when it should be picked up, energy will not be disconnected entirely from the rails of section 4--5 but instead 30 code current will be sup- Each of the other locations is also provided with an auxiliary circuit similar to that just described for location 4.

Primary winding l2 of transformer 5P is re-' ceiving energy over back contacts 32 and 33 of --relay 5EF, with theresult that codafollowing track relay 5TB is'operating at th e rate of 30 times per minute. 'Since relay 5/TR is following 30 code, both relays 5H and '5 J are energized but distant relay 5D is deenergized. With'the apparatus at location 5 in this condition, primary winding 24 of transformer 5WT is supplied with coded energy interrupted at the rate of 120 times per minute, so that secondary winding 22 supplies therails of SectionE- B with current of 120 code. The circuit for supplying codedenerg'y towinding 24 of transformer 5WT may be traced over a path which passes from terminal BX, through contact l20 of motor coder-5CD, back point'of contact 3| of relay 5D,'fr'ont point of contact 34 of re ay 5H,'front'point of contact' 35' circuit for supplying 180 code to "winding "24 of 1 transformer GWT may be traced over a path which passes froin'terminal BX, through contact'l80 of motor coder 5CD, back point of contact 3'I'of relay 5D, wire 38, front point of contact 39 of relay 5WF, line conductor 40,;wire 4|, frontcontact 42 of relay BWF, wire 43, front pointof contact 44 of relay 6D, front point of contact 45 of relay 6H, front point of contact 46 of relay SJ, front contact of relay GWLE and'winding 24 of transformer GWTto terminal CX. Primary winding 12 of transformer 6P 'is connected across the rails of section 5-45, by back'contacts 5B and 5! of traflic relay BEF, so that code following track relay 6TB, is receiving code energy inter'ruptedat the rate of 120 times per minute. 'As 'a result relay 6Dis energized so that coded energy interrupted at the rate of 270 times per minute is supplied to primary winding 24 of transformer TWT to produce 270 code in the rails of section '1 8. .The circuit for supplying 270 code'to pri'mary winding 24 of transformer. 'IWT may be traced over a path which passesffrom terminal BX, through contact 210 of motor coder 6CD, front point of contact 52 of relay 6D, wire 53, 'front contact54 of relay SWF, line conductor'55, wire 56, front contact 51 of relay 'IWF, wire 58, frontpoint of contact 59 of relay ID, front point of contact 60 of relay THpfront 'point 'of contact 6f of relay *IJ, front contact -62 of relay IWF and winding 24 of transformer 'IWT to terminal CX. Primary winding I2 of transformer 'IP is connected across the rails of section 6--! by back contacts 64 and 65 of traffic relay 'IEF, so that track relay ITR is following 180 code. As a result, distant relay 1D is in its energized condition to supply 270 code to the rails of the section immediately to the right of location 8 over a circuit similar to that just traced for primary winding 24 of transformer IWT. Primary winding l2 of transformer 8P is connected across the rails of section 1--8 by back contacts 66 and 61 of relay 8EF, so that the code following track relay 8TB is following 270 code to condition the apparatus at location 8 to supply 270 code for the section next in rear of the section immediately to the right of location 8.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the apparatus is conditioned for traffie in one direction, four successive sections to the rear of an occupied section will be supplied with 30, 120, 180 and 270 code, respectively. The coded trackway currents may be utilized in any Well-known manner to control train carried governing means, such, for example, as cab signals or similar apparatus.

When lever L is reversed to pick up traffic relays EF and release traffic relays WF, the apparatus embodying my invention will operate for eastbound traffic in a manner similar to that just described for westbound traffic. Assuming, for example, that the eastbound traflic relays EF are energized and the westbound traffic relays WF are deenergized, it will be seen that the track relays TR will receive energy from the rails of the right-hand section at each location, and the rails of the left-hand section at each location will be supplied with coded energy. Taking relay 6TB for convenience, and assuming that relay BWF is deenergized, it will be plain that the closing of back contacts 10 and H of relay 6WF will supply coded energy from the rails of section 6-l to code following relay G'I'R. Under this condition, that is, with the apparatus set up for eastbound traffic, primary winding 23 of transformer IET will be supplied with coded energy, so that the rails of section 6-! will carry such coded energy to govern the relay BTR and to govern the train carried means. The circuit for supplying coded energy to primary winding 23 of transformer IET may be traced over a path which passes from terminal BX at location 8, through contact 210 of motor coder-8CD, front point of contact 12 of relay 8D, wire 13, front contact 14 of traffic relay BEF, line conductor I5, wire 15, front contact 11 of relay IEF, wire 18, wire 58, front point of contact 59 of relay 'lD, front point of contact 60 of relay 1H, front point of contact 6| of relay 'IJ, front contact 19 of relay IEP and winding 23 of transformer IET. From the description given for supplying coded currents to the rails of section 6-! for eastbound movements, it is believed that it will be apparent how such currents are supplied to the other sections, because the apparatus at each location is identical to the apparatus at each of the other locations.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a home relay and a distant relay for each section, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded currents of four distinctive characteristics respectively according as the home relay for the section next in advance is deenergized or said home relay is energized and the distant relay for said advance section is deenergized or said home and distant relays are both energized and the distant relay for the section second in advance is deenergized or said home and distant relays for the section next in advance I and said distant relay for the section second in advance are all energized, a code following track relay for each section, and means governed by each code following track relay for selectively controlling the associated home and distance relays.

2. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a home relay and a distant relay for each section, means including a back contact of the home relay associatedwith the section next in advance for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of one characteristic, means including a front contact of the said home relay and a back contact of the distant relay associated with the section next in advance for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of another characteristic, means including a front contact of each of said relays and a back contact of the distant relay associated with the section second in advance for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still another characteristic, means including a front contact of each of the home and distant relays for said section next in advance as well as of the distant relay for said section second in advance for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still a different characteristic, a code following track relay for each section, and means governed by each code following track relay for energizing the associated home relay whenever any one of said four coded currents is present but for energizing the associated distant relay when and only when one or another of the last three of said coded currents is present.

3. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a home relay and a distance relay for each section, means including a back contact of each home relay for supplying the rails of the section next in rear with coded current of one characteristic, means including a front contact of each home relay and a front contact of each distant relay for supplying the rails of the section next in rear with coded current of another characteristic,

means including a back contact of each distant relay and a line conductor as Well as a front contact of each home and distant relay for the section next in rear for supplying the rails of the section second in rear with coded current of still another characteristic, means including a front contact of each distant relay and a line conductor as well as a front contact of each home and distant relay for the section next in rear for supplying the rails of the section second in rear with coded current of still a different characteristic, a code following track relay for each section, and means governed by each track relay for selectively controlling the associated home and distant relays.

4. A c'oded railway traffic controlling system comprising a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections means effective when one section is occupied to supply the rails of the section first in rear of said occupied section with coded current of one charactertistic, means then effective to supply the rails of the section second in rear of said occupied section with coded current of another characteristic, means including 'a line conductor and then effective to supply the rails of the section third in rear of said occupied section with coded current of still another characteristic, and means including a line conductor and then effective to supply the rails of the section fourth in rear of said occupied section with coded current of still a different characteristic.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a home relay and a distant relay for each section, a line conductor for'each section, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of one characteristic and including a back contact of the home relay for the section next in advance, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of another characteristic and including a front contact of the home relay for the section next in advance as well as a back contact of the distant relay for the section next in advance, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still another characteristic and including 'a front contact of each of the home and distant relays for the section next in advance as well as the line conductor for said advance section and a back contact for the distant relay for the section sec- 0nd in advance, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still a different characteristic and including a front contact of each of the home and distant relays for the section next in advance as well as the line conductor for said advance section and a front contact for the distant relay for the section second in ad- Vance, a code following track relay for each section, and means governed by each code following track relay for energizing the associated home signal whenever any one of said four coded currents is present but for energizing the associated distant relay when and only when one or another of the last three of said coded currents is present.

6. In combination, a forward and an intermediate as well as a rear section of railway track, means for supplying the rails of the forward section with coded energy periodically interrupted at a first rate or a second rate or athird rate'or a fourth rate in accordance with traffic conditions in advance, a code following relay receiving energy from the rails of said forward section, a home relay and a distant relay for said forward section, means for energizing saidhome relay whensaid code following relay is'rece'iving energy of any one of said four rates, means for energizing said distant relay when and only when said code following relaycis receiving energy of the last three of said four rates, means effective when said home relay is deenergized for supplying the rails of the intermediate section with energy of said first rate, means effective when said home relay is energized and said distant relay is deenergized to supply the rails of the intermediate section with energy of saidsecond rate, means also'eifective when said distantrelay is deenergized to supply the rails of the rear section with energy of said third rate, and mean s effective when said distant relay is energized to supply the rails of said rear section with energy of said fourth rate.

*7. In combination, aforward and an intermediate as well as a rear section of a railway track, means for supplying the rails of the forward section with coded energy periodically interrupted at a first rate or a second rate or a third'rate or a fourth'rate in accordance with traffic conditions in advance, a code following relay receiving energy from the rails of said forward section, a home relay and a distant relay for said forward section, means for energizing said home relay when said code following relay is receiving energy of any one of said four rates, means for energizing said distant relay when and only when said code following relay is receiving energy of the last three of said fourrates, means effective when said home relay is deenergized for supplying the rails of the intermediate section with energy of said first rate, means effective when said home relay is energized and said distant relay is deenergized to supply the rails of the intermediate section with energy of said second rate, a distant relay for the intermediate section, means for energizing said distant relay when the intermediate section is unoccupied and the rails thereof are supplied with energy of said second or third or fourth rates, and means effective when the distant relay for said intermediate section is energized for supplying the rails of the rear section with energy of said third and fourth rates according as the distant relay for the forward section is deenergized or energized respectively.

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, means including a line conductor for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of one characteristic when and only when at least three sections next in advance are unoccupied, means including a line conductor for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of another characteristic when and only when two sections next in advance are unoccupied, means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still another characteristic when and only when one section next in advance is unoccupied, and means for supplying the rails of each section with coded current of still a different characteristic when and only when the section next in advance is occupied.

9. In combination with a pair of adjacent sections of railway track, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at the junction of said sections, means .for selectively controlling said directional relays to establish the direction of traffic through said sections, a source of track circuit current adjacent said junction, a pair of line wires one for each direction and each supplied with energy at times from a source remote from said junction, means controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting'said track relay with the rails of one or the other of said sections in accordancewith the direction of traffic established, and means also controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting the rails of the section not connected with the track relay to the local source or to the line wire for the direction established depending upon traflic conditions.

'10. In combination with a pair of adjacent track sections of railway track, a track relay and 'said directional relays to establish the direction of traffic through said sections,- a source of track circuit current of one character adjacent said junction, a pair of line wires one for each direction and each at times supplied from a source remote from said junction with current of a character different from the local source, means controlled by said directional relays for effective 1y connecting said track relay with the rails of one or the other of said sections in accordance with the direction of traflic established, and means also controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting the rails of the section not connected with the track relay to the local source or to the line wire for the direction established depending upon traific conditions.

11. In combination with a pair of adjacent sections of railway track, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at the junction of said sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relays to establish the direction of traflic through said sections, a source of track circuit current adjacent said junction, a pair of line wires one for each direction and each supplied with energy at times from a source remote from said junction, means controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting said track relay with the rails of one or the other of said sections in accordance with the direction of trafiic established, circuit means also controlled by said directional relays and effectively connected to the rails of the section not connected with the track relay, and means including said track relay for selectively supplying current to said circuit means from said local source or :r the line wire for the direction established in accordance with trafiic conditions in advance of the track relay.

-12. In combination with a pair of adjacent sections of railway track, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at the junction of said sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relays to establish the direction of traffic through said sections, a source of track circuit current adjacent said junction, a pair of line wires one for each direction and each supplied with energy at times from a source remote from said junction, means controlled by said directional relays for efiectively connecting said track relay with the rails of one or the other of 50 said sections in accordance with the direction of traflic established, circuit means also controlled by said directional relays and connected to the rails of the section not connected with said track relay, an auxiliary relay, means including said track relay for controlling said auxiliary relay in accordance with traffic conditions in advance of said track relay, and means governed by said auxiliary relay for selectively supplying current to said circuit means from said local source or the line wire for the direction established.

13. In combination with a pair of adjacent sections of railway track, a track relay and a 'pair of directional relays at the junction of said sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relays to establish the direction of.

rails of the section not connected with said track relay, a plurality of auxiliary relays, means including said track relay for controlling said plurality of relays in accordance with traffic conditions in advance of the track relay, and means governed by said plurality of auxiliary relays for selectively supplying current to said circuit means from said local source or the line wire for the direction established.

14. In combination with a pair of adjacent sections of. railway track, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at the junction of said sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relays to establish the direction of trafiic through said stretch, means controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting said track relay to the rails of one or the other of said track sections depending upon the direction of traflic established, means for supplying the rails at the other end of the section to whichsaid track relay is connected with currents of difierent characteristics in accordance with trafiic conditions in advance, means controlled.

by said track relay and selectively responsive to said difierent characters of current, a pair of line wires one for each direction, means also governed by said directional relays for effectively connecting the wire for the direction established I line wire with currents of different character istics respectively in accordance with other traffic conditions in advance, and means controlled by said directional means to supply the unconnected line wire with currents of. different characteristics in accordance with the condition of said selective means to govern other trafiic controlling apparatus to the rear.

15. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at the junction of each two adjacent sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relays for establishing the direction of trafiic through the stretch, means governed by each pair of directional relays for effectively connecting the corresponding track relay to the rails of one or the other of the associated sections depending upon the direction of trafiic established, a pair of line conductors for each junction one extending in each direction, means also controlled by said directional relays for effectively connecting the associated line wire for the direction established to the rails of. the section to which the track relay is not connected, and means also controlled by said directional relays and by said track relays for supplying the associated line wire for the opposite direction withcurrent of different characteristics in accordance with traflic conditions in advance.

16. In combination, a steretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections, a track relay and a pair of directional relays at thejunction of each two adjacent sections, means for selectively controlling said directional relaysfor establishing the direction of trafflc through the stretch, means governed by each pair of directional relays for effectively connecting the corresponding track relay to the rails of one or the other of the associated sections depending upon the direction of trafiic established, a pair of line conductors for each junction one extending in each direction, means also controlled by said directional relays for efiectively connecting the associated line wire for the direction established to the rails of the section to which the track relay is not connected, means governed by each track relay and by the corresponding directional relays for supplying the rails of the adjacent section to which the track relay is not connected with a local source of currents of different characteristics respectively or for disconnecting said local source from said rails and connecting thereto the associated line conductor for the direction established in accordance with the condition of said track relay, and means governed by each track relay and by the corresponding directional relays for supplying the associated line conductor for the other direction with currents of other different characteristics respectively in accordance with the condition of said track relay.

17. A coded railway traffic governing system for a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive track sections comprising a code following track relay at the junction of each two adjacent sections, a pair of directional relays at the junction of each two adjacent sections, means for selectively controlling each pair of directional relays to establish the direction of tramc through the stretch, a home and a distant relay at the junction of each two adjacent sections, means controlled by said directional relays for connecting the corresponding track relay to one or the other of the associated sections depending upon the direction established, means governed by the directional relays for supplying the rails of the associated sectionwith coded energy of a first rate or a second rate according as the home relay is deenergized or the distant relay is deenergized and the home relay is energized, a pair of line wires at each junction one for each direction, means controlled by the directional relays for efiectively connecting the line for the direction established to the rails of the associated section to which the track relay is not connected provided both corresponding home and distant relays are energized, means governed by said directional means for supplying the associated line wire for the opposite direction with coded current of a third rate or a fourth rate according as the corresponding distant relay is deenergized or energized respectively, and means controlled by each track relay for energizing the associated home relay when the track relay is receiving current coded at any of said rates but for energizing the associated distant relay when and only when said track relay is receiving current coded at the last three of said rates. V

18. A coded railway trafic controlling system comprising, in combination, a railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line wire coextensive with said track and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of railway track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of different characters, and direction control means having a normal condition and a reverse condition and being operative in the normal condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section at one side of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied to the track rails of the track section at the other side of the junction by the current supply means at said junction or through which current supplied by a supply device to the line wire of the track section at said one side of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the track section at said other side of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied from said current supply means at said junction to the line wire of the block section on the other side of said junction, said direction control means being operative in the reverse condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section at said other'side of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at said one side of said junction by the current supply means at said junction or through which current supplied by a supply device to the line wire of the track section at said other side of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the track section at said one side of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied from the current supply means at said junction to the line wire of the, track section at said one side of said junction.

19. A coded railway traffic controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line wire coextensive with said track stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of different characters, and direction control means having a normal condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction by the current supply means at said junction or through which current supplied by a supply device to the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the track section at the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded energy may be supplied by the current supply means at said junction to the line wiire of the block section at the rear of said junction.

20. A coded railway trafiic controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line Wire coextensive with said track stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of four different characters, and direction control means having a'normal condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded current of either of two characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction orthrough which coded'current of either of the other two characters supplied by a supply device to the line wire of the block section in ad- Vance of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded current of either of the other of the two characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction may be supplied to the line wire of the block section in the rear of said junction. I V

21. A coded railway trafiic controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line wire coextensive with said track stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of difierent characters, and direction control means having a normal condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction,- to establish a circuit through which coded current of certain characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction may be supplied to the line wire of the block section in the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded current of other characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction or current supplied by current supply means to the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction, the equipment at each junction including means selectively responsive to the character of coded current supplied to the track relay at said junction for determining whether current is supplied to the track rails of the block section in the rear of said junction from the current supply means at said junction or from the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction.

22. A coded railway traific controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line wire coextensive with said track stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of difierent characters, and direction control means having a normal condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded current of either of certain characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction or coded current supplied by current supply means to the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction may be sup-- plied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded current of either of two of the other characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction maybe supplied to the line wire of the block section in the rear of said junction, the equipment at each junction including means selectively responsive to the character of coded current supplied to the track relay at said junction for determining which of the two characters of coded current is supplied to the line Wire of the block section in the rear of said junction.

23. A coded railway traffic controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive block sections, a line wire coextensive with said traclg stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of different characters, and direction control means having a normal conditionin which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either direction to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded current of either of certain characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction may be supplied to the line wire of the block section in the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded current of either of two of the other characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction or current supplied by current supply means to the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction, the equipment at each junction including means selectively responsive to the character of the current supplied to the track relay at said junction for determining which of the two characters of coded current is supplied by the current supply means at said junction to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction.

24. A coded railway trafiic controlling system comprising, in combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successiveblock sections, a line wire coextensive with said track stretch and divided into sections corresponding to said block sections, at the junction of each of said block sections of track, a track relay, current supply means capable of supplying coded energy of a plurality of different characters, direction control means having a normal condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in one direction and a reverse condition in which it conditions the track stretch for movement of trains in the other direction, the direction control means being operative in either condition to connect the associated track relay to the track rails of the block section in advance of said junction, to establish a circuit through which coded current of any one of certain characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction or coded current supplied by current supply means to the line wire of the block section in advance of said junction may be supplied to the track rails of the block section at the rear of said junction, and to also establish a circuit through which coded current of any one of the other characters furnished by the current supply means at said junction may be supplied to the line wire of the block section in the rear of said junction, and common means for effecting operation of all of the direction control means at the junctions in said track stretch to condition the teo tf's re qh for mo em zit o ains in. one it o: i niQ tho t tr-v r A o d e w y ra io oon t lli sszstom om r sin 1 om a on. a W39 9 Y lH-QX track divided into a. plurality. of; successive bloc]; oti n a a. in W coext nsi e tfit sai rac stretch and divided into. sections corresponding to aid b ock s cti ns at th u c io e ki of. aid b ook t s. o t a k a o ol ow r lay ener iz d m o t ok a ls. o t e blook eo ion in advance of said junction, current supply means apabl of supp n od d n y of a pl ali y of difierent characters, means responsive to; the supplyof current to said code following relay for determining which one of certain characters of coded current supplied by said current supply means is supplied to a circuit through which curf-v dissect;

en be su plied to the rot ile o the adja ent 101 sect n. in the. te r and; m ets tlot y s resp n v towt o. cha acter to le rent upp ied to sa d oodo tol gv c g r lay to: determin n whether urrent s su p ed to. t e m'o rai s ot he ad acent blo oot oi n the rear from said circuit or Whether current sup; plied by cu t s pl me ns o, t e o the. ad ent lo k sec i n n advance of! said juno i is' sup t the track ra s of h ad: io ent b ock section in the ea an r a so de e m ni w ich one oi t e othe ohe eotors f coded u rent upp ied by seidourren supp y ea i ppl ed to! the, line f the b ock section in the rear of said junction.

CHARLES A LQR. 

